I've never had problems with SHELL unless pointing to network shares that were inaccessible when trying to run a command

I think that is the issue. The path on the server is correct and I cannot do a direct c:\winnt\system32\ to ensuire the Cmd is accessable....so I've run out of options...set comspec shows the proper path...

Even in the Enviroment variables I've got comspec set...

So, it comes down to my W/S not being able to find the Shell on the first pass of the command. Again, when the program loops it does find the Shell...

??